Reading and Writing Dept 1 Reviewer

1.Descriptive pattern- basically provides details on the idea by using either a sensory or spatial pattern.
Sensory pattern- ideas are arranged based on one or all of five senses
Spatial pattern- arranges ideas by location or physical space.
Signal Words for Spatial pattern/ Description
above around beyond inside Opposite to
across Away from by into outside
Adjacent to Back of down near over
against behind farther off throughout
along below here on To the right
alongside beside in On top of under
amidst between In front of onto
Example: The sunset filled the entire sky with the deep color of rubies ,setting the clouds above. The waves crashed
and danced along the shore, moving up and down in a graceful and gentle manner like they were dancing.
2. Definition-used to develop an idea, helps to clarify and explain the concepts by answering the question “What
does it mean?” This pattern explains the information through the use of illustrations, examples, and descriptions.
Signal Words for Definition
is defined as means to define
as defined refers to to illustrate
Example: Social engineering is defined as any method which tricks people to share this personal information through
the use of technology. The “social’ component in the scheme means that there is reliance on various psychological
tricks and on the gullibility of users rather than the technical hacking .Social engineering also refers to various
malicious acts online such as phishing, spamming, and pretexting.
3. Exemplification- presents general statement and then provides specific and concrete examples to expound on the
main idea. This pattern is used to provide example of something.
after all for instance namely that is

as an example in other words put another way to be specific

considering the following in particular specifically to clarify
for example in short stated differently to illustrate
Example: While the internet offers so many benefits to man, it has also its downsides. One of these is phishing, which
refers to the act of obtaining personal information such as passwords and credit card details through online means., in
other words phishing is a form of cybercrime.. As an example, let us consider the case of mr. X . He received an email
stating that his gmail account has been compromised that he needed to click a link to update personal information.
If mr. X clicks the link his personal information will be illegally acquired by cyber criminals.
4. Comparison and Contrast -organizes ideas based on how events, places, people, things, and concepts are similar
to or different from one another. There are two ways on how ideas can be arranged: separately, which involves of
comparison describing one item first followed by the second item; or side-by-side, which means discussing both items
based on each.
Signal words for comparing
also equally in the same way similarly
as In similar fashion like To compare
both In comparison likewise
Signal words for contrasting
although despite instead otherwise
and yet even so however still
as opposed to eventhough nevertheless the fact remains
but in contrast on the contrary unlike
conversely in spite of on the other hand whereas
counter to in the meantime yet

Example:
Are you not sure yet which phone to buy? To help you decide, this review will inspect the basic similarities and
differences of the flagship phones of two giant companies: Apple’s Iphone 6 and Samsung’s Galaxy S5. Both brag to
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be the best smart phones in the market to date. While the state-of-the art phones have similarities in the form of
their sleek design, multi-touch touch screen, and multimedia features, they have their distinctive features as well. First,
Galaxy S5 has a larger screen at 5.1 inches as compared to iPhone 6’s 4.7 inches. As for the operating system, iPhone
6 uses iOs(8.x) while S5 uses Android(5.0, 4.2.2) In terms of the camera, S5 has a 2.1-megapixel front facing camera
which is higher than iPhone’s 1.2 megapixels. Unlike S5, iPhone battery is not user-replaceable and has a shorter talk
time, but when it comes to built-in storage, Iphone 6 outperforms S5. Now that you know the basic differences of the
two phones , you can decide!
5. Problem -Solution- a pattern which organizes ideas into problems and proposed solutions.
-The problem section usually includes the What,Who, When, Where ,Why, and How. The other parts presents the
major effects of the problem and the possible solutions to address it, as well as the steps in implementing the solution.
Signal words for Problem-Solution
but nonetheless one way is since
first one of the reason because in order to
second dillemma caused advantage
answer solved issued
so that led to the problem
disadvantage one solution is the solution
Example:
Today, most of the energy resources we have are generated from coal, oil, and natural gas. However, resources are
limited. If continuously consume at an alarming rate, fossil fuels necessary for generating power to operate vehicles
and factories will run out before long. Nonetheless, this problem can be resolved through the use of alternative sources
energy such as solar energy and fusion energy would lessen pollution. These alternative are actually more
accessible and cost-efficient. Although there are some potentials risks in using fusion energy, these risks can be
mitigated by implementing strict safety measures. The second solution, that government can adopt is the enhancement
of conservation efforts. To do this, governments need to make the public more aware of the benefits of
conservation, as well as ways of conserving energy, such as recycling. Laws can also be passed to mandate the public
and all stakeholders to recycle energy.
6. Cause and Effect- a pattern which organizes details based on the cause, the reason, and the result or consequences
of a certain phenomenon. This pattern may discuss both the causes and effects, the causes only, or the effects only.
Signal words for Causes
as for in view of (the fact) owing to (the fact)
because (of the fact) for the reason that in as much as seeing that
being that in that one reason since
due to (the fact that) caused
Signal words for Effects
accordingly consequently In consequence So that
As a consequence For this reason so therefore
As a result (of this) hence So much (so) that thus
because of this
Example:
-Drinking alcohol can sometimes be tolerated if done in moderation. However, letting it take over our lives is another
story. Many teenagers are not aware of the dire consequences of drinking too much alcohol. First, drinking too much
alcohol can damage our heart. Doctors claim that while drinking alcohol occasionally is good for the heart, if it is
taken excessively the drinker may suffer from an irregular heartbeat, stroke, cardiomyopathy, and high blood pressure.
Being alcoholic will also take a toll on our liver and can lead to a variety of disease such as fibrosis, hepatitis, and
fatty liver. Finally, drinking alcohol can weaken our immune system and make our body more vulnerable to various
diseases. It also weakens our ability to ward off infections.

Barrot, J. (2016). Academic reading and

writing for senior high school. Quezon
City: C & E Publishing, Ic. P.73

7. Narration- refers to sequence of events in the order in which they occurred in time.
about in the meantime prior to tomorrow
after later second when
afterwards meanwhile soon yesterday
as soon as next then
at next week until
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at this/ that point immediately today
Example:
-Ondoy began to develop from an active low pressure area to a tropical cyclone on September 24, 2009. The following
day, PAGASA raised storm signals all over the Philippine archipelago. At that point, signal no.2 was raised in
Catanduanes and other parts of Luzon. By Saturday morning, reports of flooding started to pour in. Meanwhile,
President Arroyo declared state of calamity in Metro Manila. Immediately after President Arroyo’s declaration,
various government agencies began the rescue and relief operations. As soon as Typhoon Ondoy exited the
Philippines, more and more relief and rescue operations were conducted.
Mechanic
 Refers to a set of conventions on how to spell, abbreviate, punctuate and capitalize.
 Mechanics are conventions that have to be considered in writing.
 Some of these conventions are spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
 It is important to know and observe these conventions in writing to avoid confusion.
MECHANICS
1. SPELLING
 When you write, always make sure that you are consistently using one standard with regard to the spelling of
your words.
 Remember that there are slight differences in American English spelling and British English spelling.
 Misspellings occur everywhere because writers do not observe the basic rules in spelling.
 A dictionary is a good source for the spelling of words. If a writer is not sure of the correct spelling of a word, he
must
 refer to a reliable dictionary.
2. PUNCTUATION
Punctuation is the act of using a system of symbols such as the comma, period, quotation marks, question marks, etc.
That are used to give structure to and organize a text. The use of punctuation guides the reader regarding how the text
should be read.
Punctuation Marks and Their Uses
Period (.)
-To indicate a declarative and imperative sentence, an indirect question, an abbreviation and an ellipsis or omission.
INCORRECT:
I want to go to the cafeteria
CORRECT:
I want to go to the cafeteria.
Comma (,)
To separate the main clause from a long clause or phrase that follows it, items in a series, dates and places, quotations
or direct speech.
INCORRECT:
I’ll go to the store to buy some milk butter and eggs
CORRECT:
I’ll go to the store to buy some milk, butter, and eggs.
Semi-colon (;)
To connect independent clauses when the second clause begins with a conjunctive adverb.
It shows a closer relationship between clauses.
INCORRECT:
I like to listen to music, I prefer jazz.
CORRECT:
I like to listen to music; I prefer jazz.

Colon (:)
To introduce lengthy materials or lists.
Use a colon after the salutation of a formal letter, between title and subtitle of a literary work, between chapter and
verse of the Bible, and between hours and minutes in time.
EXAMPLES:
 I have three favorite colors: blue, green, and purple.
 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
 “Dear Mr. Smith:”
 6:40 AM
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Question Mark (?)
-Use a question mark after a direct question.
-Do not use it when the question is indirect.
-Not to be followed by a comma or period.
INCORRECT: Do you have any pets.
CORRECT: Do you have any pets?
Exclamation point (!)
- To express surprise, disbelief, anger or other strong emotions.
- They mark the end of your sentence, except if a quotation mark comes after it.
INCORRECT: You scared me.
CORRECT: You scared me!
Apostrophe (‘)
-To indicate possession, an omission or abbreviation.
-To form the plural of letters, symbols and words used as words.
INCORRECT:
This is my Uncles property.
CORRECT:
This is my Uncle’s property.
INCORRECT:
I want to wear the boys coats.
CORRECT:
I want to wear the boys' coats.
Parentheses ()
-To enclose figures, illustrations, or incidental materials.
-Used for adding non-essential or additional information to the text.
- They always come in pairs.
EXAMPLES:
 My family is getting a new dog from the shelter (we are going to name him Barney).
 The University of Georgia (UGA) is where my mom went to school.
 Did you leave your bag (red, black handles) in the classroom?
Double Quotation Marks “ ”
-To enclose the words of someone else.
-Highlight special terms or phrases.
-Indicate dictionaries definitions.
EXAMPLES:
1. “I’m going to the store,” John said.
2. The article “The Benefits of Yoga” was published in the New York Times.
3. According to the dictionary, “altruism” is the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-
being of others.
- In US English, you must use double quotation marks. Single quotation marks are used for quotes within quotes. In
UK
English, it’s most common to use single quotation marks, with double quotation marks for quotes within quotes,
although the other way around is acceptable too.
-US english quotation example:
“Notice how the poem said, ‘With no sign of wan, he soldiered on, and brought us back to life,’” said the teacher.
UK english quotation example:
‘Notice how the poem said, “With no sign of wan, he soldiered on, and brought us back to life,”’ said the teacher.

Hyphen (-)
-To be used for syllable break at the end of a line, to be used in some compound words, in compound modifiers.
EXAMPLES:
1. The rock-hard cake is absolutely impossible to eat.
2. The 20-year-old car was still running smoothly.
Virgule (/)
-To separate alternatives, successive time frames
-To represent per in abbreviations.
-To set off phonemes and phonemic transcriptions.
EXAMPLES:
 You need to bring your own linens/sleeping bags and kitchen supplies to rent the vacation house.
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 His summer job offered $10/hour, significant for a 15-year-old 1.
 The company’s motto is “quality/cost.”
3. CAPITALIZATION
- Capitalization is the act of writing the first letter of a word in uppercase while the rest of the letters are in lowercase.
-There are rules in capitalization that one has to remember.
-Below are a few examples of words that require capitalization:
-Proper Nouns
Ex. Theodore, London
Theodore had a business on London after lunch.
-Proper adjectives
Ex. Canadian, Filipino
I love to eat bacons, especially the Canadian bacon.
My dad is a Filipino.
Days of the week
Ex. Sunday
My family go to Church two Sundays a month.
Specific courses/Titles
Ex. Theater 101
With a Theater 101 guide, beginners can learn the basics of theater, from understanding the different types of
performances to knowing the roles of actors and crew members.
Months of the year
Ex. January
The month of January is the month of hope.
 Kinship names used in place of personal names and are followed by personal names

Ex. Grandma, Dad, Aunt Paz, Uncle Alvin

My Grandma took care of me when I was just a toddler.
Language Use - refers to the appropriateness of word/vocabulary use. An effective language is specific, concise,
familiar, correct and appropriate.
-It is important that you make good choices when it comes to language use because how you use language affects
the tone of the text and the readers’ interpretation of it. Before writing, you have to think about and consider your
target audience.
The Importance of Language
-Language isn’t just thinking what you say, it is also important to know how to say it.
To communicate effectively, it is not enough to have well-organized ideas expressed in complete sentences. We must
also think what is the style, tone, and clarity of his/her writing.
Informal language - is usually used in writing for oneself or in writing to family, friends, and colleagues. On the
other hand, formal language is used in writing academic, business, and official texts.
Characteristics of an Effective Language Use
 Concrete and specific, not vague and abstract
 Concise, not verbose
 Familiar, not obscure
 Precise and clear, not inaccurate or ambiguous
 Constructive, not destructive
 Appropriately formal
Concrete words refer to tangible items, things you can count, touch, name, identify in time. For example, phrases such
as ten thousand, raw cherry wood, John Smith, and ten o’clock on January 12 are concrete. Concrete language is the
opposite of abstract language, which refers to intangible ideas or qualities, such as love, hate, or honor.
-Vague or abstract words can create wrong or confusing meanings in your receiver's mind. They state a general idea
but leave the precise meaning to the receiver's interpretation.The following examples show vague or abstract words
and ways to make them specific and precise:
 many - 1,000 or 500 to 1,000
 early - 5 a.m.
 hot - 100 degrees Fahrenheit
 most - 89.9 percent
 others - business administration students
 poor student - has a 1.6 grade point average (4.0 = A)
 very rich - a millionaire
 soon - 7 p.m., Tuesday
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 furniture - an oak desk
Examples:
Abstract: The case sought to establish equality or people of all sexual orientations. Equality can mean a variety of
things to different people: What does equality mean in this instance?
Concrete: The case sought to legalize gay marriage.
Abstract: The waiting room was unpleasant. What makes this setting unpleasant? Replace this term with specific,
descriptive language.
Concrete: The waiting room was cold, antiseptic-smelling, and crowded with sick people who were coughing,
groaning,
or crying.
Concise, not verbose
-To have an effective language use, we must express our own words as few words as possible. Concise means
expressing something that is directed to the point of what the speaker would want to tell.
Concise language involves using the most effective words in order to get one’s point across. Concise language
entails using a minimal amount of effective words to make one’s point. Writers often include words in their sentences
that are unnecessary and could be omitted in order to make the sentence more concise.
Example:
Wordy→ The teacher demonstrated some of the various ways and methods for cutting words from my essay that I had
written for class. (22 words)
Concise→ The teacher demonstrated methods for cutting words from my essay. (10 words)
Familiar, not obscure
-It is easy to use something that is familiar for audience so they will understand it quickly.
-When you’re making word choices, pick the familiar or commonly used word over the unusual or obscure.
Precise and clear, not inaccurate or ambiguous
-It is wise to think carefully about your choice of words and their potential interpretations.
-Avoid misconceptions or using vague language that will divert from your original topic.
Constructive, not destructive
-Constructive language phrases a potentially negative message in a positive way, whereas destructive language directs
blame and criticisms toward the reader, creating defensiveness.
Example:
Situation: “Every time I ask for a project update from you, you don’t get back to me until two days after our deadline
has passed which means we miss out on potential clients because we didn’t deliver on time.”
Avoid judgmental language. For example: “You never meet your deadlines! You’re terrible at this job!”
- Include actionable feedback on what the person should do next time. For example: “I would like to see more
frequent updates and expect them by the deadline at the latest, but I understand you will need help setting those
expectations with other team members as well as yourself to make sure we stay within our time frame for each
project. Thank you for taking my honest feedback seriously and working on improvement.”

 Text organization makes a text easy to read. It prevents the reader from becoming confused by a jumble of
words, sentences, and paragraphs that are in no particular order.
 For a text to be well-written, one must keep in mind one of its properties.

1. Coherence and cohesion

Cohesion – by coherence we mean that every part of a composition must contribute to one main unifying thought,
which means that the various parts of a text must follow one another in an order which makes their relationship clear.
Coherence- means that the overall text has meaning.
Cohesion (text-internal links)
-Words and phrases used in a statement stick together or lead to the flow of ideas in the succeeding statements.
Coherence (text-external relevance)
-Is the over all understanding of what you say or write. It refers to the logic of ideas and how such ideas are presented,
rather than the language used to explain or express them.
-It makes sure that each phrase, sentence and paragraph contributes to the overall meaning of an entire piece.
Common transitional words and expressions to help you connect words and sentences smoothly and produce a
coherent and cohesive text.
Addition Cause-Effect
And, also, furthermore, moreover, As a result, then, therefore, thus,
besides, in addition, first, second, etc. consequently, for this reason, hence, so
Comparison Place
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Likewise, similarly, in the same way In back of, above, alongside, beneath,
beyond, under
Contrast Emphasis
But, on the contrary, on the other hand, Definitely, indeed, in fact, no, yes
however, nevertheless, still, yet
Example Restatement
To illustrate, as an example, In short, in other words, in simpler
For instance, particularly, specifically terms, that is
Time Conclusion and Summary
Recently, meanwhile, at the same time, Thus, in conclusion, finally, to
currently summarize, and so
CLAIMS
-A claim is what the writer tries to prove in the text by providing details, explanations, and other types of evidence. It
is the writer’s point or position regarding the chosen topic.
Example:
Johnny is going through puberty.(CLAIM)
Johnny is 14 and has grown 4 inches over the last 6 months, has started growing a mustache and his voice has
changed. (EVIDENCE)
Puberty is a time when boys grow facial hair, experience voice changes and have tremendous growth spurts.
Therefore, Johnny must be going through puberty. (REASONING)

Implicit and Explicit Claims

Implicit - defined as implied or understood though not plainly or directly expressed.
Example:
 The teacher understood that the students did not understand the subject because they did not want to do the
questions. He did a study lesson to explain them in detail after school.
 The place where my father sits at the table is known to everyone. We do not need to say that, and nobody will sit
in his place.
 There is a morality implicit in his writings.
 It’s so cold in here.
Explicit - to fully and clearly express something, leaving nothing implied.
Example:
 “I think your lazy. Get up and put your clothes away, empty the trash, and make your bed.”
 “I don’t know why there is a group of students hanging out right here.
 Get to class and out of the hallway before I write you a detention.”
 The school bus was dropping kids off at school.
 Please close the window!
A reader must not only have reading comprehension skills but also critical thinking skills especially when he
encounters argumentative or persuasive writings. This is so because such writings contain a number of claims. Also
called propositions, these claims are categorized as follows:
THE 3 CLAIMS
 Claim of Fact
 Claim of Value
 Claim of Policy
Claim of Fact
- It asserts that something is true or not.
- A claim of fact is an argument about a quantifiable topic.
- To qualify as a claim of fact, it must be debatable, that is, it must have the potential for controversy or conflict.
- A well-argued claim of fact clearly states the main argument and defines vague and controversial terms. It is
supported with factual information such as statistics, testimony, and observation.
* Note that a claim of fact is not a fact; it only asserts a stand regarding a debatable topic.
Inappropriate claim of fact – a statistic or fact that is not debatable:
“The month of March 2017 was 1.03°C (1.9°F) above the 20th century average—this marked the first time the
monthly temperature departure from average surpassed 1.0°C (1.8°F) in the absence of an El Niño episode in the
tropical Pacific Ocean.” (from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, NOAA, https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201713 )
Appropriate claim of fact – makes a claim that is debatable using factual evidence
Reading and Writing Dept 1 Reviewer
-Decreasing carbon dioxide emissions from car exhaust, manufacturing processes, fertilizers, and landfills, while
slowing deforestation, may help slow the process of global warming.
EXAMPLE:
The Sun is at the center of the solar system is a fact, but is not a claim of fact because it is not debatable.
However, Sun worship is a religious practice of the primitive people only is a claim of fact because such assertion can
serve as a debate topic.
Examples:
 The death penalty does not deter crime.
 People use Facebook, Twitter, and other social media to bully one another.
 Obesity causes health problems.
 Neil Armstrong was the first man to step foot on the moon.
Claim of Value
- It asserts that something is good or bad or the other thing is better than the other one.
- Involves judgements, appraisals, and evaluations, as well as one’s tastes, prejudices, and biases, often embedded in
his social, religious and/or cultural values.
- A well-defended claim of value may assert that the value being defended will produce good result, as long as it is
backed up by reliable information. Moreover, a claim of value draws on real-world examples and illustrations to make
the abstract value clear.

EXAMPLE:
 Brand X is better than Brand Y.
 Method A is more effective than Method B
 Model C is not as good as Model D
Examples:
 Indian is the best food of all.
 It is better to walk than run.
 Public schools are better than private schools.
 Gay marriage is immoral.
 Opera is not as entertaining as musical comedy.
Claim of Policy
- It asserts that something must be done as a course of action or solution and answers the questions:
Should it be done? Should the course of action be followed?
- It generally states solutions and plans that are procedural and organized. A claim of policy also incorporates
judgement coupled with supporting information.
- The keyword is the verb “should.”
EXAMPLE:
 Death penalty should be abolished.
 Congress should pass a bill to stop tobacco production in the country.
Examples:
 You should support restrictions on abortion.
 Bringing of electronics gadgets like laptops and ipods should be banned

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